Calumet Band (Funk)

Premium seating reservations only held until start of music. Open seating after the start of music. Please arrive early and no refunds.

Calumet was formed in Phoenix, Arizona by Eric “ET” Mobley (v/g/k) and Jason “JJ” Mitchell (g/b/v) in 2001 after a chance encounter at a music store. With a shared affinity for Sly Stone and other funk originators, they formed a strong musical bond. Originally a funk and soul cover band, Calumet began writing its own material soon after debuting. The band cut its teeth playing bbq joints, parking lot festivals, and pool halls for a couple of years in Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottsdale.

In 2002, the band released their debut album, “Retro Energy” and played shows around Arizona, including stints at Martini Ranch, Livingston’s, and numerous other nightclubs and restaurants. During the next 7 years, a number of the Valley’s best musicians performed in Calumet. The band featured at clubs and festivals, and landed opening spots for Al Green, Kool & the Gang, and George Benson. Two more albums were issued, “The Musical Brothers of Calumet”, and “Rock Soul Funkateers”, before the band went on hiatus in 2009.

Calumet was reborn in 2018 with Eric and Jason reunited on their funky quest. The band now features Josh Prior (b/g/v), Jeff Pivin (drums), Jeff Jones (tenor), plus early members Ian White (percussion) and Marvin Scott (alto) back in the fold. The band is bringing the Funk to the Valley of the Sun and beyond, with the “It’s What You Do” EP released in July of 2019, and a new full-length album in June of 2020 entitled “Life in Transition.” Since September of 2020, Calumet has issued 8 new singles. Eric, Jason, and Josh are all multi-instrumentalists, frequently changing up roles to suit particular songs. Their smooth vocal harmony blend evokes classic soul of the past, but many Calumet songs feature unique arrangements and provocative lyrics about the times in which we live. “We’re not looking to be a copy of the artists we admire,” says Jason. “We are driven to express our own point of view musically and lyrically.”

With a deep catalog of their own music, and an even deeper well of all-time classics, Calumet brings energy and soul to every performance.

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